In the closing laps of the Java House Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, INDYCAR driver Marcus Ericsson high-centered on the exit of turn six, lost control, and slid into the gravel and back onto the racing surface before stalling. He then sat there for several laps trying to get the race restarted while the course was under a local yellow in his sector.
INDYCAR on Fox broadcaster James Hinchcliffe noted on the replay of Ericsson's crash that he was lucky to stop and not go further into the racing line to get collected by the full-speed traffic at the time of the incident.
"So lucky to not continue going driver’s left and be collected by another car," Hinchcliffe said. "That could’ve been much, much worse."
The problem was that Ericsson was marooned, unable to start, sidelined on the asphalt as drivers continued, not seeing the No. 28 Andretti Global until they were within a few yards of it.
The INDYCAR on Fox broadcast showed a portion of the course from Pato O'Ward's helmet cam, highlighting just how close the drivers were before Ericsson came into view.
The full-course yellow was thrown after several laps, and the Andretti of Ericsson was brought back to the pits for a DNF with heavy damage to the floor of the race car.
When Ericsson was first released from the race care center and asked if he thought the yellow was thrown late, he said he didn't know since he was too focused on getting his car going.
"I don’t know," Ericsson answered Fox Sports' Bob Pockrass, "I was just trying to get the car started again, that was my main focus."
Following the race, Ericsson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he was happy to be safe following being stuck in a blind spot for multiple laps.
"Happy to not get hit whilst sitting at a blind spot on the track for 3 laps..." Ericsson wrote. "Onto Portland."
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